Otterbein College (Westerville,
OH)
Community
Service-Learning Center
Background
The Community Service Program, coordinated and sustained with the assistance
of 12 student coordinators who serve as capacity builders for specific
community-service opportunities, provides intentional learning opportunities
to build students’ character and values.
The Practice
In 1995 the college created a new professional staff position, coordinator
of community service/residence hall director, and offered scholarships
to four first-year students to serve as student coordinators. The coordinator
of community service heads the Community Service-Learning Center that
provides seven weekly programs in a variety of community settings ranging
from local schools to a nursing home to a facility that serves disadvantaged
youth. A strong partnership has been developed with each agency through
the direct involvement of the student coordinators. Upper-class student
coordinators are paired with underclassmen to provide for consistency
of the program and good communication for ongoing program success.
Student coordinators are considered to be capacity builders, and work
to recruit and organize the students who perform the specific delivery
of services. Any student who serves as a capacity builder to maintain
and provide for the function of the service program is paid either by
scholarship or work-study funding. The Community Service-Learning Center
works with the admissions staff to identify potential candidates for these
scholarship opportunities. Scholarship applications are then forwarded
to the candidates from the center and reviewed by a committee headed by
the coordinator of community service.
Six student assistants are also used to fulfill the administrative function
of the Community Service-Learning Center. Since there is no secretarial
staff for the office, the students are an integral source of continuity
and program implementation. These students receive work-study funding.
Faculty members who integrate service into their courses have the option
of having a student service-learning assistant. This past year, six faculty
requested such assistance. These students are paid with work-study funds
as they assist the faculty member in the delivery of the service component
of the course. The student is trained to perform logistical, implementation,
and reflection activities.
Effectiveness
Student coordinators plan all aspects of the community-service programs
from one-time events and weekly programs to volunteer recognition events.
Student leaders in campus organizations, pre-professional clubs and special
interest groups plan, implement, reflect and evaluate the experiences
to determine the impact on the outreach programs. Student-led training
sessions are held for students to enhance their tutoring and mentoring
skills. Program planning workshops are offered for organizations to plan
events. Celebrations are held quarterly to recognize the efforts of student
leaders who have served others and peer leaders following community-service
experiences conduct reflective moments.
Through these efforts, the total number of hours served by students increased
from 2,811 hours to 3,464 hours over a three-month period from fall ’02
to winter ’03.
In addition, qualitative and quantitative assessments were conducted
through the CAPHE Engaging Communities and Campuses grant program.
Among the findings from the 330 student surveys were:
- 80.3 percent felt positive to very positive about their community-service
involvement at Otterbein;
- 79.2 percent participated in community-service activities;
- Females on an average had more service initiatives than males and
more frequent participation; and
- Freshmen had the highest mean frequency of participation and number
of service initiatives.
“Community engagement as encouraged by service-learning initiatives
is thriving at Otterbein. Otterbein students have a very positive view
of community engagement as encouraged by service-learning initiatives,”
wrote the consultant in the summary of the research findings. “Students
have had some very positive experiences!” The survey helped identify
areas for improvement that included stronger communication between students,
faculty, and agencies, and further implications to be drawn from the service-student
experience as it connects to them and their post-college life.
Alumni surveys have found that Otterbein students have been impacted
by their service involvement while at Otterbein in such a way that they
will continue serving the community after graduation. Among the 160 respondents
who graduated in 2001, 43.8 percent were involved in community service
while at Otterbein and 48.8 percent plan to continue being involved. Similarly,
of the 2002 graduates 48.3 percent were involved in community service
while at Otterbein and 46 percent plan to continue being involved.
Freshman year surveys conducted in the spring of 2002 indicated that
66.4 percent of 274 first-year students participated in community-service
work. Prior to students’ attendance at Otterbein, 52.8 percent of
176 surveyed had performed community service as part of class in high
school and 26.8 percent of 190 surveyed were required in high school to
perform community service.
Resources
For detailed information about Otterbein’s Community-Service Program,
please visit its website.
Job descriptions of the coordinator of community service and student coordinators
positions may be obtained from Rebecca Smith, associate dean of students.
Contact Information
Becky F. Smith
Associate Dean of Students
Otterbein College
100 West Home Street
Westerville, OH 43081
Phone: 614-823-3202
Email: RSMITH@Otterbein.edu
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Effective
Practices Exchange
